Live Small – Be Morehttps://www.livesmallbemore.blog
Ideas for a simpler and happier lifeFri, 16 Mar 2018 00:47:40 +0000en-NZhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4Homemade soap making – the pros and conshttps://www.livesmallbemore.blog/homemade-soap-making-pros-cons/
https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/homemade-soap-making-pros-cons/#respondFri, 16 Mar 2018 00:47:40 +0000https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/?p=744About two years ago I participated in a workshop to learn how to make my own soaps. Before the workshop, I had watched countless videos on soapmaking but I was

]]>About two years ago I participated in a workshop to learn how to make my own soaps. Before the workshop, I had watched countless videos on soapmaking but I was still uncertain about it all. So I took the workshop, gained some confidence, and went to make my own soaps.

Not long ago I decided to stop making soaps.

This post details my journey, from my initial fears to my reasons to stop making my own soap.

Why respect but not fear is key in soap making

The reason I was fearful to start making my own soap was the fact that I had to work with lye. I had read all safety warnings about lye and was afraid of doing it wrong.

Working with lye does require quite some respect. For example, water and lye should really only be mixed outside or in an extremely well-ventilated room. The fumes resulting from the chemical reaction are no joke. On my very first attempt at soap making, I started mixing lye and water inside but quickly moved outside. It was simply too strong for my liking.

Further, it is very important to pour the lye into the water, not the other way around. As soon as the lye gets in contact with water, the reaction begins. If you accidentally pour water into lye it can result in an explosion (luckily that never happened to me!).

Once the lye is mixed with the water it needs to be handled with caution. It’s hot and caustic which can result in chemical burns to anything touching it. I always wore goggles, a face mask, long sleeves, and gloves at this stage.

Even when the water-lye mixture is combined with the oils, the mixture remains caustic and caution is key.

All these warnings kept me from trying soap making on my own for a few months until I saw it being made with my own eyes.

The advantage of making soaps at home

After I got over my fears and turned them into respect for the matter, soap making became interesting. I worked with “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Making Natural Soaps” by Sally W. Trew ad Zonella B. Gould which gave me great guidance in developing my own recipes.

I really enjoyed putting oils together I liked and turning it into soaps. I even experimented with additives (which didn’t work great; not a good idea for a beginner!). From the op-shop, I got myself some funky silicone shapes which made my soaps look different.

And the best part for me was that I knew what went into my soaps. I didn’t hesitate to give them to my kids and enjoyed using something I had made myself.

Why I stopped making my own soaps

I have since stopped making my own soaps for a few reasons.

Firstly, it takes time to make soap. I’m not just talking about the time it takes to mix the oils and the water-lye mixture but the amount of time it takes to cure the soaps. It takes at least 4 weeks until I could use my creations and I’m not good at waiting to see if something worked or not.

Secondly, I always ended up with too much soap. I used the smallest amount of ingredients which I thought feasible but I always ended up with so many soaps that it would last for months to come. This time frame, coupled with the curing time, led to maybe three batches of soap per year. That wasn’t a whole lot for someone like me who wants to experiment. Especially if a soap didn’t turn out great, I still had bars and bars lying around, using up my space.

Thirdly, I found great unpackaged soap at our local co-op shop. There are countless soap makers around, some greater than others. I, however, found one I really liked and started using her products rather than making my own. When it comes to soap making, I learnt that the issue of scale is an issue: it takes just as much effort to make one bar as it does to make 100 (okay, almost). For me, it just wasn’t worth it to make a small batch, wait four weeks until the soap had cured and then to use the same soap for three months. I wanted variety.

And that’s why I gave up soap making. Maybe I should add that I gave it up for now because who knows, I might start back up again. Making my own soap is fun and creative. And it can be a great way to understand your skin care better.

]]>https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/homemade-soap-making-pros-cons/feed/0Inspirations from the “Ecologist Guide to Food”https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/inspirations-ecologist-guide-food/
https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/inspirations-ecologist-guide-food/#respondMon, 05 Mar 2018 10:19:07 +0000https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/?p=1130I’m not a big fan of scare stories, stories written to shock me. I don’t like horror movies and ghost stories. And I don’t like documentaries and reports which outline

]]>I’m not a big fan of scare stories, stories written to shock me. I don’t like horror movies and ghost stories. And I don’t like documentaries and reports which outline how bad our world is. Some might say I’m naive but, honestly, I simply try to remain calm. There are a lot of things in our present day to get upset about, but I chose which ones are important to me.

Why I don’t get scared so easily

The reason I’m staying calm and I won’t stop eating right now is that I know about the injustices in the world already. I know that we have to kill animals to survive and that global trade leads to price dumping everywhere. It’s not good and I’m not proud of it but there is very little I can do about it in the short term (other than to stop eating).

Again, call me naive but I’m not going to stop eating food which might have been produced under questionable circumstances. Why? Because I need food to survive.

The ugly truth is that as humans we need to kill in order to live. Even a plant-based diet has an impact on our environment: we take something away from other animals (and humans!).

The question remaining for me is what I can do better or differently.

My options

Options A is to close my eyes to the realities of our world and keep on living my life. Sometimes ignorance is bliss and not knowing what went into my food can help me enjoy it more.

Option B is to be radical and to start producing everything myself, using permaculture principles and raising animals in a compassionate way.

Option C is to shop consciously and to pay attention to what’s going on. This option involves getting information, asking questions, and to understand the food I’m consuming.

Since I read the “Ecologist Guide to Food”, option A is not viable anymore for me. A tin of tomatoes from Italy won’t be the same anymore.

Knowing my food

Shopping consciously means for me to understand that my food grows somewhere. As a modern society, we have become disconnected from our food. We rely on an industry to supply us with every single item of food in our house.

This disconnection has a variety of negative side effects.

Number one is the outsourcing of food production with potential ingredients we wouldn’t put into our food at home.

The second problem of the disconnection between production and consumption is that we tend to overconsume and eat foods that aren’t in season. This overconsumption doesn’t necessarily have to have negative impacts on our health but it does on our planet. Just consider apples travelling around the globe or being stored in the fridge just so that we can have apples all year around.

The third problem with our disconnection to food are cosmetic standards. Around 30 percent of all fruit and veggies don’t make it into the supermarket because they don’t look right. Eating only untarnished fruit and veggies leads to food waste which then leads to even more food being grown to feed us.

There are more problems with not knowing and not understanding where our food comes from, of course. But again, there is no use in scaring you.

My solution to understand my food is to establish a connection with the growers and with the suppliers. I went to see the origin of our veggie box, I saw the honey taken from the hive, I know where my jam is cooked, my bread is made, and where my eggs are laid. By far, I don’t know everything but I’m trying.

]]>https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/inspirations-ecologist-guide-food/feed/0Hair removal – not so common methodshttps://www.livesmallbemore.blog/hair-removal-not-so-common-methods/
https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/hair-removal-not-so-common-methods/#respondFri, 02 Mar 2018 10:28:24 +0000https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/?p=1109I recently tackled the issue of hair removal and talked about the most common methods. Today I want to venture into the unknown territory or the lesser known ways of

Today I want to venture into the unknown territory or the lesser known ways of hair removal.

Hair dying

The first isn’t actually hair removal but rather making hair invisible: hair bleaching or dying. This method is particularly useful for facial hair but can be used for just about any part of your body.

The upside of hair dying is that you don’t actually have to remove the hair and thus save yourself some hassle. Dying body hair can last up to four weeks, depending on your hair growth.

The downside of bleaching the hair is that you will be applying bleach to your skin (or very close to it). It can bleach skin as well, which does go away but it might not be a desirable side-effect. Further, the bleach can cause skin rashes, much like any chemicals on our skin.

Sugaring

I mentioned this method of hair removal in my previous post because it is similar to waxing. But sugaring deserves some more attention than a single side-note.

Sugaring has been used for millennia, primarily in the Middle East.

Its basic premise is the same as waxing but it differs in the ingredients used. In a sugaring paste, sugar is mixed with lemon juice and water and heated in a pot. Once it turns amber, it’s ready to use (after it’s cooled down a bit).

I’ve never tried sugaring but given its low cost, few ingredients, and easy make, it’s very high on my list.

Sugaring seems one of the most environmentally friendly ways of hair removal, at least that I have come across. It shouldn’t irritate the skin (or at least not more than waxing) and with its easy home-make aspect to it, It seems perfect for anyone wanting the effects of waxing without having to spend much money.

Epilation

Epilation is a lesser-known way to remove hair but I’m not sure why. It’s very similar to waxing because it, too, removes the hair with the roots. It can provide the same results as waxing, often with fewer side-effects. However, you will need an epilator machine which is a noticeable up-front cost.

The advantage of epilation is that it provides the same benefits as waxing without causing continuous expenses. Once the machine is paid for, it only requires power. Further, it can remove much shorter hair than waxing. I also find that it makes less of a mess and you can do it easily at home. Some epilators can even be used in water.

The down-side of epilation is that you will need an epilator. I don’t advertise it but Braun has the best reputation and range of epilators.

With an epilator, you will have higher up-front costs but with some care and love, it can last for years. Given the longevity of the machine, I would recommend epilation as the most cost-effective method of hair removal.

Laser hair removal

The most expensive method of hair removal is a laser therapy. Some swear by it. I’ve never tried it.

The advantage of laser hair removal is that it is permanent. Although it can take a number of sessions to get to this point, once complete, the hair will not grow back.

The disadvantage is that it cannot be done to perfection at home but only in a clinic. Unless you come across a special offer, laser hair removal is expensive. And because it requires multiple sessions, it can be more expensive than expected.

Laser hair removal can also damage the skin if it’s administered by someone inexperienced. Safety comes first so only consider a clinic with a good reputation.

I admit that laser hair removal is not high on my list of methods to try. Although the promise of ‘permanently hair-free’ is tempting, the high cost and potential negative effects keep me from it.

In terms of simple, affordable, and environmentally friendly hair removal methods, laser therapy scores relatively poorly. Only the fact that it’s permanent can off-set some of the cost of shaving, waxing, or any other method in years to come.

Even though hair removal is a cultural ‘thing’ and something to rebel against, the feeling of hair-free skin is nice. I’ve tried to collect the most common and uncommon methods of hair removal. What’s your preference? And, what’s your secret to hair-free skin?

]]>https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/hair-removal-not-so-common-methods/feed/0Yep, I naphttps://www.livesmallbemore.blog/yep-i-nap/
https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/yep-i-nap/#respondThu, 01 Mar 2018 09:56:14 +0000https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/?p=1106There is one aspect of working from home which I greatly enjoy: the possibility to have a mid-day nap. While I remember as a child being very annoyed by midday

]]>There is one aspect of working from home which I greatly enjoy: the possibility to have a mid-day nap. While I remember as a child being very annoyed by midday naps (much like my kids now), as an adult I cherish them. I can always tell what time of the day it is because I always get tired around midday. And for me, the best way to handle this tiredness is to have a quick nap.

What constitutes a nap

A nap is a short sleep in the middle of the day. The length of a nap can vary but the important difference to a nighttime sleep is that a nap does not last long enough for our brains to enter a deep sleep phase, so-called slow-wave sleep. Waking from this type of sleep can result in grogginess and disorientation, much like when you wake in the middle of the night.

Naps are culturally different. In the Western world, children and elderly are encouraged to nap while adults are discouraged. A nap is often (still) considered a sign of laziness and thus most adults don’t take naps. However, in hot climates napping is more accepted than in colder climates. The reason is simply the heat of the day.

As much as the cultural background to napping varies, the styles vary as well. Some ‘nappers’ prefer some quiet time in the middle of the day, without necessarily sleeping, while others benefit from a 90 min nap without waking up groggy and disrupting their nighttime sleep.

Further, napping reduces stress and can even reduce the risk of a heart attack. Some research even suggests that napping can reduce blood pressure.

If those reasons aren’t good enough, use this: a nap is a perfect excuse for ten minutes to yourself. I usually tell my kids that even if they don’t want to sleep, a break in the middle of the day is good to calm down. They then use it to read books or play quiet games.

How to nap

The most general advice on napping is to limit it to something between 20 and 45 min. For most people, this time span means that their brains won’t enter a deep sleep phase and should not leave them more tired.

Further, a quiet space or music helps to relax. Lying down is preferable but even just feet up can contribute to a good nap.

If you have trouble to calm down, try meditation or simple relaxation techniques.

If you are afraid of napping too long try either of these three ideas:

Set an alarm

Have a cup of coffee before napping. The caffeine takes about 30 min to take effect, the perfect amount of time for a nap.

My personal favourite: hold a key or another object in your hand. Once your muscles relax your hand will let go of the keys (or the object) and it should fall on the ground and make a noise to wake you up. This technique works particularly well because it takes the perfect timing of your nap into consideration.

When napping isn’t helpful

Although I’m a big fan of napping I have also found that napping can affect my sleep at night. If I nap too long in the day I can’t get to sleep at night or my sleep is interrupted more often. In those situations, I try to change my napping style. I try to skip the nap altogether or keep it very short.

Napping is great to provide a burst of energy but it should not replace a proper nights sleep. There is research which suggests that people can adopt a napping lifestyle. This lifestyle – also referred to as Uberman sleep or Biphasic sleep – means to limit sleeping to napping and therefore creating more awake time during a 24h period. There is some (a lot) of criticism to this approach and it’s certainly not for everyone.

I believe that napping can help to get through the day, especially when you don’t get enough sleep during the night. And even if it’s not real sleep, naptime can be great to get a break.

]]>I picked up “Save” while browsing the bookshelves at our local library. Its subtitle really appealed to me: “Save your money, your time, your planet”. The title photo is of a green money plant growing from a pot. All that really inspired me to give this book a try.

Shannon Lush is a fine arts restorer and Australian radio host. She has published a couple of books, namely a series called “Spotless” with “Spotless Baby”, “Spotless pets”, and others. Her website is this. Jennifer Fleming is a writer and media consultant as well as a radio producer and broadcaster. She co-wrote most of Shannon’s books.

About the book

The book is divided into the different rooms of a house – kitchen, lounge, bedroom, kids, laundry, outside – and a chapter on food. But it’s really the introduction I want to look at now.

In the introduction the two authors speak of an experiment which I find really inspiring: don’t throw anything away for six weeks, no recycling and no general waste. What a challenge!

This challenge introduces the concept of the book pretty precisely. The book is full of ideas to repurpose every single item in the house, from plastic bags to pantyhose. Every chapter/room comes with a collection of ideas on how to reuse individual items which would usually end up in the bin, recycling or not. Some rooms also include ideas for the more general repurposing of items, such as a busy box for kids with everything from egg cartons to old toothbrushes, or a mosaics from broken plates.

My impression of the book

Shannon and Jennifer have truly managed to collect an abundance of ideas on how to reuse (almost) anything. I like the book as a reference book and to come back to it from time to time to get ideas.

However, it requires a lot of storage of all the ‘junk’ before it can be turned into something else. And I think that’s where it would get too complicated for me. Just an example, the number of old things that can be turned into rags for cleaning seems endless but, truth be told, no one needs that many rags.

And still, the book is full of so many ideas and no musts. I don’t have to do any of them (unless I do a challenge).

What the book inspires

My biggest obstacle to the book is that I simply don’t think to look before I throw recyclables in the bin. Just take water bottles: I don’t even think about turning them into watering cans before I take them to the bin. The book confronts me with this thinking which I believe is its biggest achievement. It challenges me to rethink my rubbish and come up with ideas of how to repurpose it.

Some ideas are, apart from waste reducing, plain awesome. Just take this: the tail ends of bread can be turned into modelling clay if they are mashed and then combined with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of water. Once shaped they can be dried/heated at 130°C in an oven until they are rock hard. Or this one: toilet paper rolls can be used to hold socks or undies, posters, craft supplies, gift wrap, or just about anything that can tangle (I store my cables in toilet paper rolls and label them; makes finding the right cable a breeze).

I like the combination of random ideas and really useful tips in the book. But admittedly, you need a bit of a crafty side to master some of them.

Overall I like the book as a reference manual for repurposing my waste. I’m sure to try the challenge myself. “Save” will certainly help to get useful ideas for most throw-away items.

]]>https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/book-review-save-lush-fleming/feed/0Book review – “A Guide to Natural Housekeeping” by Christina Strutthttps://www.livesmallbemore.blog/book-review-a-guide-to-natural-housekeeping-by-christina-strutt/
https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/book-review-a-guide-to-natural-housekeeping-by-christina-strutt/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 02:29:50 +0000https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/?p=1093I picked up this guide to natural housekeeping at the library, like many of my other books. And again, I was drawn to the title first without knowing much about

]]>I picked up this guide to natural housekeeping at the library, like many of my other books. And again, I was drawn to the title first without knowing much about the content of the book. I flicked through it quickly and liked the photos so it came home with me for a proper read.
Before I get into the content of the book, a few words about the author.

Christina Strutt is the owner and co-founder of Cabbages and Roses, a homeware store with rustic and floral designs and prints in the UK. She has also published a number of (other) books such as “Living life beautifully” and “At Home With Country: Bringing The Comforts Of Country Home”. Her primary focus in her writing is vintage fabrics and designs.

About the book

“A guide to natural housekeeping” is an introduction to natural ways of cleaning, growing food, and homemaking in general. The sections are cleaning the house, energy consumption in the house, the kitchen garden, a well-stocked larder and food storage in general, herbs and their usefulness for human health, and homemade gifts. Very nice photographs illustrate the content of the book.

The introduction to the book gives a very good insight into where Christina stands and how this book came about:

The book “encourages us to shop locally, seasonally and sustainably, supporting local farmers and independent shopkeepers. If we all adopt this lifestyle, it will have a huge impact on our planet – that of being gentle with it.” (p. 14)

I liked that approach and kept reading.

In particular, the first chapter, the one on natural cleaning, has inspired me to a couple of posts on this blog.

My assessment of the book

I got the book because I read ‘housekeeping’ as ‘cleaning’ only. My expectation was a book which addresses this aspect in more detail. Unsurprisingly, I was disappointed.

Overall, I like Christina’s approach to life and sustainable living and I always applaud people diving into it. And for that, the book does a good job. The beautiful photography enhances this message and gives the reader an idea how beautiful natural housekeeping can look.

The problem with beautiful pictures is that it can (and in this case does) replace the content. Although Christina writes in the introduction that she lives by everything she writes, it addresses many issues only superficially.

In particular, the section on energy consumption left me puzzled. She addresses a number of very important issues such as the contributions of air travel to CO² levels. But she does not offer very practical solutions. “Living like our forefathers” cannot (and is not) the answer to our current energy crises. This chapter, in particular, made me wonder if the content of the book is as relevant to my life as I assumed in the beginning.

I appreciate most other sections of the book. I trust their content and recommend them as an introduction to natural cleaning, gardening, food storage, using herbs, and gift making. In particular, the section on medicinal herbs encouraged me to look beyond conventional medicine and use our herbs more.

Overall rating of the book

The book “A guide to natural housekeeping” is a good introduction to more sustainable and natural ways of living. Christina addresses many issues and, while (and because) speaking from experience, presents an authentic account of varies possibilities.

For me personally, the book was lacking in a number of areas. It is a good introduction to many issues but does not go into enough detail on most of them. Every chapter can fill entire books by themselves and most of them deserve more room than they are given in the book.

I understand where Christina comes from and applaud her for sharing her knowledge. After all, that’s what I’m doing as well. And for that, I recommend the book to anyone interested in a beautiful introduction to sustainable living. However, if you are interested in the details or don’t have the skills, space, and resources she has, the book creates more aspirations than it can actually inspire lifestyle changes. If you come across the book, give a read, copy down ideas you like, and fill the gaps with more research.

]]>https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/book-review-a-guide-to-natural-housekeeping-by-christina-strutt/feed/0What my handbag says about mehttps://www.livesmallbemore.blog/what-my-handbag-says-about-me/
https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/what-my-handbag-says-about-me/#respondThu, 15 Feb 2018 23:27:55 +0000https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/?p=1097The other day I read a post about someone’s handbag and that got me thinking, about handbags and life in general. The post was written about something completely different (more

]]>The other day I read a post about someone’s handbag and that got me thinking, about handbags and life in general. The post was written about something completely different (more about the sustainable aspect of handbags) but it reminded me that I actually don’t have a handbag. I mean, I have bags I sometimes carry around but if there was an emergency and I needed to run out of my house, there would be no bag ready to grab.

I gave up a large handbag when my kids started walking and I had to chase them. A handbag is very impractical in those situations. Since then I usually have my phone in its case with the most important cards, tucked in one of my pants’ pockets. If I don’t have a pocket I use a belt bag, the only sort of handbag I use regularly. For any longer trips, I use canvas bags.

What a handbag says about us

I did a bit of reading around on handbags and was astonished to find a vast area of research, from funny to serious (or at least it was supposed to be serious). Most of the studies concluded that a handbag says a lot about its carrier.

Handbags have been around for centuries. It served the purpose of carrying items, mostly money, close to a person’s body. Handbags date back to those days when clothing didn’t have pockets. Back then, it was mostly men who used handbags because women didn’t leave the house enough to be needing one.

What my (lack of a) handbag says about me

The messages from that research on handbags made me flinch in multiple ways: Women didn’t use a handbag because they didn’t leave the house; a handbag is a status symbol and a sign of a woman’s emancipation?! What does my lack of a handbag make me?

I don’t want to depress myself (or anyone like me) but rather turn this on its head. What does it NOT make me?

A lack of a handbag for me means freedom, physical and financial. I’ve never been the type to spend a lot of money on a bag but without using one, the need for one disappears. Admittedly, in the past, I have bought handbags. My belt bag came from a market stall and my other (larger) handbag was a gift from my husband. I don’t however, spend money on a bag as an accessory.

Without carrying a handbag around I also get physical freedom. My kids were the reason to give up a handbag but now I really enjoy walking the streets without the extra weight.

A lack of a handbag also means that I don’t carry things around I don’t (really) need. It leaves me puzzled, honestly, when I see some handbags and their content. Why do you carry all these items with you? Some researchers suggest that in particular women show through the content of their bag their nurturing side. They are prepared for anything. And it’s not just for themselves but for anyone around them.

While anyone could conclude that my tiny handbag means that I’m not prepared, I prefer to say this: I don’t prepare for an uncertain future but only for the immediate one. I pack what I need for that particular trip away from the house.

Handbags and minimalism

This discussion about handbags and my tiny one reminded me a lot of minimalism: focus on what’s important at a particular time; financial and physical freedom; and breaking the norm by not participating in a game of status symbols.

A video the other day listed some weird signs that you might be a minimalist but handbags wasn’t one of them. For me, having a tiny handbag is certainly one sign. If you can live with little while out and about then you certainly can in your home.

The aim of minimalism is to reconsider all of our possessions and what they mean to us and our lives. I don’t need a big handbag, neither as an emergency kit nor as a status symbol.

]]>https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/what-my-handbag-says-about-me/feed/0Book review – ‘Self-sufficiency’ by Alan and Gill Bridgewaterhttps://www.livesmallbemore.blog/book-review-self-sufficiency-alan-gill-bridgewater/
https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/book-review-self-sufficiency-alan-gill-bridgewater/#respondFri, 09 Feb 2018 03:19:42 +0000https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/?p=1057I picked up “Self-sufficiency – A guide for 21st-century living” by Alan and Gill Bridgewater from the library because I was drawn to the title and the subject. I often

]]>I picked up “Self-sufficiency – A guide for 21st-century living” by Alan and Gill Bridgewater from the library because I was drawn to the title and the subject. I often walk past that shelf and scan the titles so I thought I would get this book and have a read through it. Here are some of my thoughts on the book and its content.

What the book is about

The title already gives its content away, it talks about self-sufficiency. It covers issues such as land, house, energy, food, animals, homemaking, foraging, and woodcraft. It also has a section on children. The book is written by Alan and Gill Bridgewater, a couple from England, living on a rural property, and ‘living the dream’. Their website offers an overview of their background.

The book was published in 2013 and it aims to cover a wide range of topics related to self-sufficiency. That was the reason I started to read it. For example, it tackles the area of food production through no-dig gardens, sowing tables, crop rotation and manure. Similarly, other chapters also include a large range of topics. The topic of energy talks just as much about consumption as it does about the different types of energy generation. Homemaking not only offers recipes but also instructions on how to knit and make soaps. To put it in plain terms, the book tries to cover every aspect of self-sufficiency.

My assessment of the book

This book is a rather realistic account of self-sufficient living. Alan and Gill talk about obstacles just as much as about achievements. And I found it enlightening to read something that covers ‘living off the land’ without the rosy glasses.

Further, Alan and Gill successfully avoid the big buzzwords on the subject. Keywords like permaculture, mudbrick, and upcycling are wholly avoided. For a change, that’s a nice thing.

But, because the book tries to cover every other question out there on self-sufficient living, it remains very shallow in its answers.

Alan and Gill are no doubt very knowable in their way of living. And judging from their range of books, they are prolific writers. I love the way they present information in this book, always from personal experience. It really shows how invested both are in what they are doing.

The book is further full of very nice pictures and illustrations. They give me, the reader, a good feeling about the content.

But, as a guide to self-sufficiency, the book falls short.

Every topic is covered in two pages. Just to take the example of making jam, a subject which covers bookshelves, is talked about on one page with two nice photos and an illustration of jam-making equipment on the other. Yes, it’s nice to look at but in terms of content creation, it does very little.

And while the jam-making section is just one example, the brief mentioning of every subject runs through the whole book. Just to put it all in context: the book has 220 pages, weighs almost one kilo (920g) in the hardcover edition, and has a size of 20x25cm. It’s neither small nor light. And given its size, I was expecting it to give me a lot more information than it did.

Overall rating

My personal assessment of the book, however, shouldn’t discourage anyone from reading it. As I said I like the personal stories in every section and chapter. It gives me great confidence in the author’s knowledge on the subject. Further, it has the potential to give anyone new ideas about self-sufficient living. Because it covers so many different aspects, there is surely something new for anyone.

For me, I liked the chapter on children. Alan and Gill give ideas on how to build a kids’ camp, on tools and toys for children, and on campfire cooking as an introduction to outdoor living for children. It’s great to see the personal touch of family life on a farm like this.

If you’re new to the subject, absolutely get the book. However, if you already know a lot of stuff around it, this book wouldn’t help you much.

And, frankly, the 21st-century promise from the title doesn’t deliver through the book. There are far more internet and youtube resources which can get you further.

]]>https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/book-review-self-sufficiency-alan-gill-bridgewater/feed/0Hair removal – common methodshttps://www.livesmallbemore.blog/hair-removal-common-methods-part-1/
https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/hair-removal-common-methods-part-1/#respondThu, 08 Feb 2018 09:45:03 +0000https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/?p=1083I came across a campaign today which got me thinking: Get Hairy February. The goal of the campaign is to raise money to help eliminate violence against women. And the

]]>I came across a campaign today which got me thinking: Get Hairy February. The goal of the campaign is to raise money to help eliminate violence against women. And the way to do it is to encourage women to stop shaving in the month of February (and to donate money). I’m intrigued, especially since I always like a good challenge and I don’t like shaving.

Challenge aside though, hair removal is a pain in my butt. I do it but I don’t enjoy it. And I know that it’s a cultural thing, even a generational one. I have yet to find a place in the Western world though where body hair is accepted.

And since body hair is stigmatized and women are encouraged or even shamed into shaving, I want to dive into the world of removing body hair. Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t approve of removing body hair but there is a part of me that wants to ‘fit in’. I’m not there yet and ‘Get Hairy February’ might have to wait for next year.

Shaving

The most used method of hair removal is by shaving. Shaving is mostly used for men’s faces and for women’s legs and underarms. There is wet shaving and dry shaving, with a razor or with a machine. And every person will have their personal preferences.

The problem with shaving is two-fold.

Number one is the potential for ingrown hair. In particular, if you couple shaved legs with tight pants, the chances of getting ingrown hair and/or ‘shaving pimples’ are high. Both are a result of the hair follicle being irritated by the shaving and in most cases also because too much skin was removed in the process. The rubbing of the skin through pants contributes putting pressure on the hair follicle which then pushes the hair sideways rather than upwards. And there is no easy way to avoid ingrown hair or shaving pimples, other than to stop shaving.

The second problem with shaving is that you will need new equipment, constantly. This shaving equipment, from razors to shaving cream and aftershave, costs money and contributes to our waste problem. One thing that gets me very annoyed is the advertising for razors for women, the ones with the little bars in front of the blades. Not only are these more expensive but they also last less long and produce more waste. I have long ago moved to a simple shaver for men with a reusable handle so I only need to exchange the blade. Another idea is to move completely zero waste and start using a manual folding razor blade, the kind used by barbers.

Waxing

The second most popular form of hair removal is waxing. This can be done at home or at a salon, hot or cold.

The advantage of waxing is that rather cutting the hair off, it’s removed with its root. This pulling of the hair means that it will grow back slower and often finer. However, it also hurts because not only are the hairs removed but also the top layer of dead skin cells. And for some people, this can result in rashes and red skin.

But that said, since there are different versions of waxing, it’s worth trying them all before giving up.

The good thing about waxing, other than what I mentioned above, is that it can be done quite ecological. There are reusable strips and eco-friendly waxes. If you wanted to try something completely waste-free, you can always try sugaring, a form of waxing.

Creams

The last hair removal method I want to talk about today is hair removal cream. These creams are sold without a prescription at drug stores and pharmacies, sometimes even at supermarkets. Their idea is to dissolve the hair at the shaft rather than cutting or pulling it out. Their active chemical is a Thioglycolic acid which breaks down the keratin in the hair (and the top layer of the skin) and thus allows the cream to dissolve the hair.

Now, hair removal creams do come with a warning in-build. If left for too long they can burn the skin. If used in the wrong body region it either doesn’t work properly or burn your skin.

I don’t want to talk you out of it if you’re set with hair removal cream but I do want you to consider this: hair removal creams are an expensive way of self-mutilation. They can cause severe skin reactions, even if used properly. And you have to repeat the treatment, just as you do with shaving. And they contain chemicals that are used to dissolve parts of your body.

]]>https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/hair-removal-common-methods-part-1/feed/0Doing laundry naturallyhttps://www.livesmallbemore.blog/natural-laundry/
https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/natural-laundry/#respondThu, 01 Feb 2018 23:59:09 +0000https://www.livesmallbemore.blog/?p=1055Recently I posted some thoughts on naturally cleaning bathroom and kitchen, and how to do this anti-bacterial. Today I want to tackle another area: the laundry. So this post is

Laundry detergent

The first topic jumping to mind is, of course, laundry detergent. And there are quite a few options.

Number one, which I go by, is to buy laundry powder in bulk. I have a container which I regularly fill up at my local coop store. The powder is 100 percent biodegradable and because I get it in bulk I also reduce my waste.

And then you can also make your own laundry detergent, liquid or powder. I’ve never made my own but it’s high on my list of things to try out.

Ingredients of natural laundry detergent

There are plenty of recipes for DIY laundry detergent, both powder and liquid. The ingredients are usually

washing soda

borax or hydrogen peroxide

soap.

Washing soda, or sodium carbonate, is very similar to baking soda and shares a lot of its properties. In fact, you could even substitute baking soda for washing soda. In essence, its job is to soften the water and it can help to remove grease and oil from clothing.

Borax is a natural bleach with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Its job is, obviously, to increase the cleaning power of soap. Instead of borax, you can also use hydrogen peroxide, but you won’t be able to pre-mix the powder because hydrogen peroxide is liquid while borax comes as a white powder.

The last essential ingredient is soap. And with soap all recipes vary, depending on the country they originate from. I would say to get a plain laundry soap, preferably not palm or only sustainable palm. Make sure it contains no colourants or any other additives.

Some recipes also claim to give you liquid laundry detergent. I have my doubt that they last long on the shelf because they all contain water. Without any preservatives, you risk mould growing in your detergent.

Fabric softeners

Since having kids I haven’t used fabric softener. In particular, the scent and potential residue in clothing have put me off. And so far my clothes haven’t needed any softener on a regular basis.

But every now and again I load the machine and let it run without detergent but with white vinegar instead. Vinegar breaks down any residue in the clothing, of water or detergent, and leaves them feeling nice and fresh.

Washing machine and water temperature

The next topic of a natural laundry is the washing machine and water temperatures.

In general, toploading washing machines use more water than front loaders. Frontloaders are also more energy efficient, use less detergent, and are gentler on clothing. But, top loaders are cheaper and because they usually have fewer laundry options they are more durable. Personally, I’m a big fan of front loaders because they wash my clothes much better. Maybe it’s my current model of a top loader but I’m not a fan.

My washing machine is automatically set to wash with cold water. Maybe that’s a cultural thing but Australian households usually wash with cold water (while Europeans don’t). In terms of natural cleaning, cold water is often the preference because it reduces energy demands of the machine.

However, with regards to removing heavy soils (such as from nappies), germs, dust mites, and even bacteria, cold water won’t do much. Here, a hot wash will have to come in. The question about the water temperature then comes down to water heating: is it controlled by the machine itself or through your general hot water supply?

Drying clothes

And the last aspect to talk about with natural laundering is a dryer – yes or no?

For me, I have never owned a dryer and have only ever used one at a friend’s house.

My biggest concern about a dryer is that it’s yet another appliance which consumes energy, costs money to install and maintain and produces waste at the end of its life cycle. A clothes dryer also produces heat which can be an issue if it’s being used in small spaces.

I can see the advantage of using a dryer, particularly when you can’t hang washing outside but a well-ventilated room can do just fine.

The bottom line for me is that if at all possible, I try to hang my washing outside in the sun. Sunlight contributes to freshening up clothing and there is nothing better than a fresh breeze through my clothes.